DeKALB – Mayor Cohen Barnes thanked the DeKalb community, first responders and medical professionals Monday night as he addressed the City Council for the first time since suffering serious burns in an accident at his home Sept. 12. Barnes said he suffered second and third degree burns over 30% of his body and spent two weeks in a burn intensive care unit and another week in a step down unit. He credited DeKalb firefighters and emergency medical personnel for their quick response, along with medical teams at Northwestern Medicine Kishwaukee Hospital and Loyola University Medical Center for their care. Barnes said the emergency responders arrived within minutes and provided immediate treatment before transporting him to the hospital. He also praised the doctors, nurses, therapists and support staff who cared for him during his recovery.
“Their expertise, kindness, encouragement, and patient played an enormous role in my recovery,” Barnes said. “And I will never be able to thank them enough.”
Barnes also thanked community members for their prayers, cards, phone calls and messages, along with those who organized meals for his family. He said the support helped ease the burden on his wife and daughter, who have remained by his side throughout his recovery.
“They have been my caregivers, my advocates, my nurses, as of late, and sources of strength on days when strength was needed most,” Barnes said. “Quite simply, I would not be where I am today without them.”
The Mayor noted he still faces a lengthy recovery but was grateful to return to the council meeting. “When someone is facing a challenge, people here show up,” Barnes said. “They show up with their time, their prayers, their meals, their encouragement, and their compassion.”